Thinking of getting a Harley

lyonsd,

It sounds like you need a Buell Lightning:) A buddy of mine works over at Stone Mountain Buell/Harley Davidson. They will let you test ride over there. Ask for Pete if you are interested..... A Buell seems like a good option if you like Harley v-twin engines and might want a little performance in the chassis department as well...JMO
 
No thanks. It looks like a crotch rocket. I don't want a crotch rocket. I want a cruiser. But thanks anyway. I may have to check out Stone Mountain H-D.
 
I changed my mind...

Forget the Wide Glide. The Dell Kid called me up and said, "Dude, yer gettin' a V-Rod!"
:D
 
I am your man, I had a Wide Glide up to September of this year when I totalled it.
I wasn't paying attention - totally my fault...
When you decide to go to Bike Week in Daytona get back to me and I can tell you all the places to go and a few to avoid.
 
Get a chrome lower belt cover, get chrome foot pegs and a billet shift peg. Get chrome handle bar control covers. Get a chrome rear brake caliper bracket and rear brake caliper; get a chrome front brake caliper.
Allocate about $1000 for an eighty spoke front wheel and about $1800 for an eighty spoke rear wheel.
Chrome lower fork sliders are nice as are chrome front brake lever and clutch lever, but they are down on the list. The polished aluminum are pretty good.
Don't you dare put saddle bags or a windshield on it! Keep the clean look, by all means.
Use S-100 brand wax.
You get better performance out of two into one exhaust pipes and many H-D owners are going that way; but you get better sound out of two individual pipes. I had Python 3 pipes with baffles and they were stinking loud. My friends made me ride at teh back of the pack because my pipes were so loud.
If you go with straight pipes, you lose performance unles you step up to a stage three motor which very few people do.
I had the sound of stright pipes with the performance of baffled p
pipes. I also had the Yost Power Tube on my carb which made A LOT of difference. If you read articles about the Yost Power Tube the reviews are mixed, but I had a good experience with it.
 
Get a pair of chaps and some good winter gloves; a good leather riding jacket and boots and it will keep you set well into cold weather. Good rain gear helps a lot, but no matter what riding in the rain sucks. We all get caught in the rain at some time, so just have a good attitude about it, laugh and ride straight.
I put grip warmers on my bike - something like twenty buck from Dennis Kirk catalog - and they helped. But they seemed better than they actually were.
It is very fashionable to get an aftermarket seat, but I was always satisfied with the stock seat and kept it and never regretted it. Ocassionally, I took the sissy bar off.
Oh yeah, get a SAC. That is a bag that attaches to the seat and you can stuff a ton of clothes and other things into it for travel purposes.
 
Let me know what else you want to know and I can probably tell you the answer with personal first hand experience.
In the tradition of Harley Davidson, ALL H-D riders are considered family. Also, in true H-D tradition, pick a charity and there will most likely be an event sponsored by Harley or some motorcycle centered sponsor and participate. H-D people are charitable, we don't give away the family fortune, but we chip in with regularity.
I always did the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Ride for Kids.
A police escorted ride, thrity-five bucks and you get a lapel pin.
Oh yeah, get a Levi's blue demin jacket to collect your laepl pins and patches - never wash the jacket.
When you go out to eat on your H-D, tip AT LEAST twenty percent unless you get total dog treatment. Big tipping is another Harley trade-mark. Servers know that and typically give H-D riders really good service as such.
 
Harley's hold their value.
Bike shows are won by Harleys.
Harley has the longest tradition.
How many products - any product - do you know where the uses actaully tatoo the company name on themselves.
Harleys used to be not too reliable, but now they are at least as reliable as Japanese bikes.
Crotch rockets do have more performance ability, but how often are you going to ride 150 mph?
I had a Wide Glide and I could do a u-turn in just over one lane of space without putting my foot down.
If speed is what you want, get a Boss Hoss - that is the fastest bike made. NOT a Japanese bike.
 
Originally posted by Vector
Get a chrome lower belt cover, get chrome foot pegs and a billet shift peg. Get chrome handle bar control covers. Get a chrome rear brake caliper bracket and rear brake caliper; get a chrome front brake caliper.
Allocate about $1000 for an eighty spoke front wheel and about $1800 for an eighty spoke rear wheel.
Chrome lower fork sliders are nice as are chrome front brake lever and clutch lever, but they are down on the list. The polished aluminum are pretty good.
Click to expand...

Chrome-schmrome. The VRSCB is the "blacked out" version of the V-Rod and I'm going to keep it that way. My mods will typically only involve those relating to performance, like exhaust, ECM and the big bore kit.

Don't you dare put saddle bags or a windshield on it! Keep the clean look, by all means.
Click to expand...

For sure. I may buy some saddle bags but I'll only use them when I'm planning on carrying something.

You get better performance out of two into one exhaust pipes and many H-D owners are going that way; but you get better sound out of two individual pipes. I had Python 3 pipes with baffles and they were stinking loud.
Click to expand...

I'm not into loud pipes. I prefer quiet, like the GN.

Originally posted by Vector
Get a pair of chaps and some good winter gloves; a good leather riding jacket and boots and it will keep you set well into cold weather. Good rain gear helps a lot, but no matter what riding in the rain sucks. We all get caught in the rain at some time, so just have a good attitude about it, laugh and ride straight.
Click to expand...

In the summer time I'll be wearing shorts and t-shirts. In the winter, jeans and sweat shirts.

It is very fashionable to get an aftermarket seat, but I was always satisfied with the stock seat and kept it and never regretted it. Ocassionally, I took the sissy bar off.
Oh yeah, get a SAC. That is a bag that attaches to the seat and you can stuff a ton of clothes and other things into it for travel purposes.
Click to expand...

I'm considering a seat because the V-Rod's seat doesn't look too comfortable for passengers. And a sissy-bar/backrest because I don't wany my kids, wife or girlfriends falling off when I crank it open. ;)
 
There really isn't much worry about someone falling off. Even if they aren't holding on when you punch the throttle, they will be able to grab your waist before they fly off.
One real consern is if a person gets really comfortable riding passenger behind you, they might fall asleep. That is when someone may fall off. I'm not kidding about that.
The V-Rod is a good bike; I test rod it in Daytona and at York Open House...I thought you were getting the FXDWG?
 
Look at the post I made in this thread dated: November 25th, 2003 09:24 PM
 
No offense to anyone that has one...but the V-Rod has got to be one of the ugliest bikes I have ever seen. I like the Buell better and I HATE the Buells. If you like it though...is all that matters.
 
Originally posted by lyonsd
Anybody know of any Harley-related forums?

I'm considering a Dyna Wide Glide (FXDWG).
Click to expand...

What did you decide on??

Have you already made you Christmas list?? :D


K.
 
My new V-Rod

I called a local dealer last week to see if they had a black VRSCB. They said they were geting on in March. So I went by there today to see if I could negotiate a deal on it and put down a deposit. There was a blue VRSCA in the showroom and I went to look at it. I thought that I could be quite satisfied with it because it was beautiful. Plus I could use this line on chicks: "Wow, your eyes match my V-Rod!" ;) So I offered $18400 (out the door) and they accepted. I put down a $1000 deposit and now I'm just waiting for my money to come in from the stock I sold.

You can see some pics here: http://www.turboconnection.com/showcase/VRSCA/
 
Interesting thread and nice bike.

I was just at our local Harley dealership the other day. (yes my local German Harley dealer) I've driven by a hundred times but decided to take a closer look the other day while my friend was here to visit.

I picked up a price list and literature about some of the bikes they had on hand (both new and used). I'm a little hesitant on buying anything here because I know I'm not going to be here TOO long, but I also know Harley's hold their value.

Does anybody have a link to a reliable price list in the states? Thanks.
 
very nice!!!

Thats what I want... Have you seen one w/ drag bars(straight handle bars;) ). It changes the entire look of the bike! Very cool IMO. Have fun!
 
V-Rod!
My parents have been into HD's for 25 years and just bought a 2004 full dressed unit for the Shriners club that he belongs to so I thought I would venture into the HD shop to browse. WOW, I have loved the V-Rod ever since it came out and I was knocked over by the fact that I can actully afford one!! I have never been rich or had much $$ until the last few years and I am amazed that "poor" me could easily own a VR ($220/month payments for 7 years). That makes me feel good about myself and where I am at in my life b/c I consider that bike to be as special as owning my GN. My dad was talking to me REAL HARD yesterday about getting one but I prolly won't waste the $$ at this time but who knows what will happen in the next year or two:D:D
Hell, I may even consider another type of HD that will be cheaper, I dunno..

ks:cool:
 
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